Description
Luke 12:49-56
Following Jesus is not always an easy thing to do – just like He faced the cross, so we too must bear our crosses and follow him. Let us not settle for a false peace with those who would have us deny Jesus as Lord of our lives. Being united with Christ means belonging with Him and being separate from seeking the things of this world, whether that is material things or relationships. If we claim to follow Him, our primary relationship must be with Jesus Christ. When we put other things before Him, even religion, we lose our ability to see clearly and understand what God is doing in our lives and in our world.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
Mighty to Save
Ben Fielding & Reuben Morgan, ©2006 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Lifesong
Mark Hall, ©2005 My Refuge Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC)
Counting on God
Jared Anderson, ©2007 Vertical Worship Songs
[Traditional Options]
Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide
LSB 585; LW 344
Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won
ELW 621; LBW 133; LSB 490; LW 139
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
BH 75 337; CH 526; CHH 537; ELW 596; HFG 92; HLC 313; HSP 125; LBW 293,294; LSB 575; LW 368; NCH 403; PH 379; RH 419; UMH 368; WAR 405
Invocation
Pastor We have come together this morning to worship and meet with our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
ALL Jesus, we ask you to open our hearts and minds to your Word. Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor Jesus, thank you for calling each one of us to be your followers. We ask that you help us to put you first in our lives, even when causes us to be uncomfortable and our plans to be disrupted. We surrender to you, have your way and glorify Your name through us.
ALL Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Lord we take this time to ask you to examine our hearts, see if there be any offensive way in us and lead us in the way of Life.
ALL Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew and right spirit within me.
Pastor God, generous in love, give us grace and wipe out the record of our sins.
ALL Jesus, you have saved me from the sentence of death. I sing songs of joy for your gift of new life. Open our lips, Lord, and our mouths will declare your praise. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Jeremiah 23:16-29
Man’s acts and words are no secret to God, who is always present with us – so we should choose our words with care. Be careful not to tag God’s name onto your own agenda – it does not go unnoticed by Him. We should only speak for Him what He has told us to say. God’s true words are mighty and to be revered.
16 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ 18 But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? 19 See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly. 21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds. 23 “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. 29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
